Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. Occupying 652,864 square kilometres (252,072 sq mi) of land, the country is predominantly mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. Kabul is the country's largest city and serves as its capital. As of 2021, Afghanistan's population is 40.2 million, composed of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmens, Qizilbash, Aimak, Pashayi, Baloch, Pamiris, Nuristanis, and others.
Kabul, situated in the east of the country, is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. The capital of the province is Kabul city, which is Afghanistan's capital and largest city. The population of the Kabul Province is over 5 million people as of 2020, of which over 85 percent live in urban areas. The current governor of the province is Qari Baryal.
The Afghanistan national football team is the national football team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. Founded in 1922, they played their first international game against Iran in Kabul, 1941. Afghanistan then joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954, as one of the founding members. They play their home games at the Ghazi National Olympic Stadium in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. In 2013, Afghanistan won the 2013 SAFF Championship and earned the "FIFA Fair Play Award". Afghanistan has never qualified for the AFC Asian Cup.
The culture of Afghanistan has persisted for over three millennia, tracing record to at least the time of the Achaemenid Empire in 500 BCE, and encompasses the cultural diversity of the nation. Afghanistan's culture is historically strongly connected to nearby Persia, including the same religion, as the people of both countries have lived together for thousands of years. Its location at the crossroads of Central, South and Western Asia historically made it a hub of diversity, dubbed by one historian as the "roundabout of the ancient world".
Football is one of the two most popular sports in Afghanistan; the other one being cricket.
The Kabul Premier League was created in 2006 in order to improve the Afghan national team and extend season of some Afghan Premier League teams. In the first division there are 12 teams, which play each other once a season inside Ghazi Stadium in Kabul. Games must be held on different days due to lack of stadiums.
Ordu Kabul F.C. is a football team based in Kabul, Afghanistan. The club last competed in Kabul Premier League. Ordu FC became champions twice, in 2006 and 2007. In 2009, the team got a new ground, Melat Stadium.
The Afghanistan women's national football team is the women's national team of Afghanistan until the fall of Kabul in 2021. They played under the authority the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF).
Sport in Afghanistan is managed by the Afghan Sports Federation. Cricket and association football are the two most popular sports in Afghanistan. The traditional and the national sport of Afghanistan is Buzkashi. The Afghan Sports Federation promotes cricket, association football, basketball, volleyball, golf, handball, boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, bodybuilding, track and field, skating, bowling, snooker, chess, and other sports in the country.
Mohammad Salim Israfeel Kohistani is an Afghan footballer who currently plays for Vejen Sports Forening. He is national team player of Afghanistan. He played in World Cup 2010 qualifiers, and 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification. He is from north-eastern province of Kapisa and is one of the most capped Afghan players ever along with Zohib Islam Amiri and Faisal Sakhizada.
Sayed Maqsood Hashemi is an Afghan footballer who currently plays for Ordu Kabul F.C. football club in Afghanistan. He is also a player for the Afghanistan national football team; he has 2 goals. He wears number 6 and plays defensive midfielder position.
Zohib Islam Amiri is a professional footballer from Afghanistan who plays as a centre-back for A.S. Blainville and the Afghanistan national team.
Zakria Rezai is an Afghan footballer who plays for Ordu Kabul F.C., football club from Afghanistan. He is also Afghanistan national football team player, and he has 9 caps. He wears number 14 and his position on field is centre back.
Faisal Safa Sakhizada is an Afghan association footballer who currently plays for Kingston City FC, football club from Melbourne, Australia. He is also a player in the Afghanistan national football team. His position on the field is centre back defender.
Ghulam Haider Hamidi was the Mayor of Kandahar in Afghanistan. During Taliban rule, his family fled to Pakistan, then to the United States.
The 2013 Afghan Premier League was the second season of Afghan Premier League, the Afghan league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2012. The season began on 22 August 2013 with the group stage and ended the season with the final on 11 October 2013. Toofaan Harirod head into the season as the defending champions. In the final, Shaheen Asmayee F.C. won their first title, beating Simorgh Alborz F.C., 3–1, in extra time.
Farzad Ghulam Ataie is an Afghan footballer who currently plays for Toofaan Harirod F.C. in Afghanistan. He is also a member of the Afghanistan national football team. He wears number 4, and his position on the field is defender.
Saadullah Khan is a Pakistani footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for SSGC F.C. and the Pakistan national team. Although his favored position is that of a playmaker, he can also be deployed as a striker or winger. Khan is considered to be one of the Pakistan's best young players, possessing speed, technique, dribbling skills, and play-making capabilities. Best player 2017. Best player 2019.
The 2015 Afghan Premier League is the fourth season of Afghan Premier League, the Afghan league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2012. Shaheen Asmayee F.C. are the defending champions of the Premier League. The season started on 27 August 2015 with the 8 teams again in two groups. Shaheen Asmayee again reached the final of the Afghan Premier League and faced off against De Spin Ghar Bazan F.C. It was the first time De Spin Ghar reached the final of the league.
